Adele inspired by Winehouse's attitude

Amy Winehouse's attitude and refusal to compromise inspired Adele's career

The 'Rolling in the Deep' hitmaker and Amy are the only British female solo artists to enjoy wide scale success in America over the last decade, and Adele admits she learned a huge lesson about being herself and refusing to compromise from her peer.

Adele - who attended the same BRIT School of performing arts in Croydon, Greater London, which Amy studied at for a year in 2001 - wrote on her website: "Not many people have it in them to do something they love, simply because they love it. With no fuss and no compromise.

"We believed every word she wrote, and it would sink in deep when she sang them. Amy paved the way for artists like me and made people excited about British music again whilst being fearlessly hilarious and blase about the whole thing."

Adele, 23, added she doesn't think Amy - who died on Saturday (23.07.11) after a period of alleged drinking and drug abuse, although the official cause of death has yet to be determined - even realised exactly how important a musical force she was.

She added: "Amy knew what she was capable of and didn't even need to try. If she wanted to do something she would and if she didn't she'd say f**k off.

"I don't think she ever realised just how brilliant she was and how important she is, but that just makes her even more charming."

Meanwhile rapper Jay-Z has also written in tribute to the tragic star, who he worked with, appearing on an official remix of her 2006 breakthrough single 'Rehab'.

Referring to one of her tracks, he wrote on his blog: "Rest in Peace AMY. 'Tears Dry On Their Own' My favorite song by this amazing talent (sic)."